The latent and prevalent manifestations of violent conflicts in secondary schools in Uganda. A case study in Wakiso district, central Uganda.

Abstract

Syfte: The purpose of this study was to investigate the complex phenomenon of the latent and prevalent manifestations of violent conflicts in secondary schools in Uganda. It also seeks to explore and explicate students’ conceptualization of violent conflicts in schools, the complex circumstances under which the phenomenon unfolds and handled; its repercussions to the teaching and learning processes in schools and to establish how the role of a school climate contribute to enhance or preempting violent conflicts in schools.

Teori: The study employed the theoretical lens of Galtung’s A-B-C conflict triangle model (Galtung, 1996, p. 71). This model was used to analyze the causes and role of actors in violent conflicts in schools.

Metod: A case study was used with a triangulation of multiple data collection methods including, scanning survey questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion as tools of data collection. Resultat: The interpretation of the findings led to thematically categorization of causes of violent conflicts in schools as follows: brutality, harsh punishment and use of excessive power by school staff and prefects, neglecting of students’ welfare, bad food and sanitation, enforcement of strict rules with rigidity, failure to understand students, administrative deficit leading to school mismanagement, poor conflict management skills and denial of entertainments as major causes of violent conflicts. To these students reciprocate by using violence to communicate to school management. It was also found that some students engage in violent conflicts because of indiscipline, bad upbringing and use of drugs.